Self-Catering at Candy Cottage | Holiday Cottages in Sherborne

Holiday home
Candy Cottage is a self contained wing of the owners' house, a former Sherborne Castle estate worker's cottage, in the village of Thornford, just three miles from Sherborne in north west Dorset. The cottage sleeps two people and contains a double bedroom, a bathroom and an open plan living area with a fitted kitchen, a dining area and a sitting area with a woodburning stove. Outside the cottage is off road parking for one car. Set in beautiful surroundings, Candy Cottage is an ideal place for a romantic break in the Devon countryside.

Accomodation Details
One double bedroom. Luxurious bathroom with freestanding roll-top bath, separate shower, basin and WC. Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area with woodburning stove.

Area
Thornford is only 3 miles from the town of Sherborne in Dorset and contains a pub, local shop and a post office, as well as a 'halt', on the railway line linking Weymouth with Bristol. The village is surrounded by an Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty and just a short drive takes you into Sherborne, well known for its castle and abbey, and where you can browse the array of shops and restaurants.

Region
Devon, with its quiet country lanes, patchwork of lush green fields and sleepy villages is not to be missed. Stately home lovers will be spoiled and why not finish with a scrumptious Devonshire cream tea?

Amenities
Night storage heaters in sitting room and bedroom, underfloor heating in bathroom with woodburning stove. Electric oven, ceramic hob, microwave, fridge, TV with Freeview, Wi-Fi, DVD, selection of books and games. Power and starter pack for stove inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. Roadside parking available for 2 cars. Off-road parking for one car. Two well-behaved dog welcome. Sorry, no smoking. Shop and pub 8 mins walk. Note: Steep twisting cottage stairs, may be unsuitable for the infirm. Note: property does not contain a garden.

TheOriginalBaldie

September 2023

We liked the location, the welcome pack and the toiletries. The cottage smelt unclean as soon as we entered and it was very dirty on inspection. We had to wash all cutlery, crockery, glasses and cookware. The inside of the kitchen cupboards were disgusting with grease and dirt on the shelves. Top and bottom of microwave had a film of grease over it. The internal kitchen bin was filthy with bits of food and drink spills down the sides of it. The kettle had not been emptied and was dirty on the outside. The toaster was dirty and had not been cleaned. The skirting boards throughout were dusty. Underneath the lampstand which was corroded and dirty, and behind the sofa was dirty with many dead insects. Some of the bedroom drawers smelt stale and we couldn't use them for clothing. Carpets were grubby and need replacing. The windows and frames inside and out were disgusting and obviously had not been cleaned for some time. The two roller blinds in the kitchen and bathroom were dirty with mould and dead creatures stuck to them. The bedroom curtains were also grubby. The sofa looked worn and tired as others had commented previously in their reviews. I am glad that we took our own throws to sit on. The tall candle holder was full of cobwebs inside and there were used candles in all of the holders. We brought scented candles to try to improve the horrible aroma within. The small patio area was full of weeds and above the front door were overhanging bushes which made it difficult to stand to unlock/lock the door. There was a small bistro set in front of the cottage but unfortunately this was rusty and dirty so we did not use it. Overall, the cottage was dirty which is sad as with a deep clean and replacing worn items it would be beautiful. We could've spoken with the owners who live next door but in the light of them ignoring previous reviews it's clear they are not bothered. We left the cottage cleaner, tidier and smelling fresh on our departure

Guide38477110415

January 2022

Liked · We liked the location as it is near my daughter and that is why we chose it. The bathroom is lovely and the bedroom is comfortable. We liked the wood burner and the welcome basket, thank you. Disliked · Unfortunately downstairs is just not clean. We know the cottage is an older building but we live in an older building too so know it could be better. The smell of damp was there all the time. The sofa and footstool need a good clean or just replacing, as does the little dining set, the cushions are stained on both. The light shades were dusty and dated and full of cobwebs , to be honest they really let it down. Then there were the stains and mould on the blinds, even in the bathroom. We went and bought some new bedding as the one on the bed was worn and the pillows were old and flat. Kitchen roasting tins were greasy and the cooker plate cracked and worn. We left a day early as we just couldn’t stay any longer as it just didn’t feel clean.

Mrs Rowbotham

August 2020

Enjoyed our stay at Cottage but would like to point out the Road Cottage was on .... Enjoyed our stay at Cottage but would like to point out the Road Cottage was on was really noisy and Busy Cars travelled far beyond the Speed limits for a Small village of this size

Mrs Rowbotham, August 2020

Lovely owners and a well resourced cottage.. It was clean and the fireplace was wonderful. It was great that we were able to bring our dog with us. Lots of lovely walks and the Village was friendly.

Mrs Bennett, August 2020

Met expectations in general except for the wifi.. This was implemented, but was only really usable on one of the devices we were intending to use, and that only for short periods early on some mornings. Otherwise the cottage was a cosy little place and we enjoyed visiting several national Trust properties in the vicinity. Good food and drink was available at the local pub (5 minutes walk) and there were several pleasant local walks. Our hosts were very helpful, particularly in allowing us to charge our car from the cottage supply.

Dr Bacon, August 2020

July 2020

Very friendly owners of the cottage.. Also very helpful. Very comfortable cottage in a lovely village . Sykes gave us all the information we needed including covid virus info. We could not ask for anything more. It was a much needed and enjoyable , and relaxing break.

Mr Cadwallader, July 2020

February 2020

It was a very restful break the weather didn’t spoil it a Beautiful spot Tracy .... It was a very restful break the weather didn’t spoil it a Beautiful spot Tracy and David are very welcoming the welcome pack was lovely will be going back again

Mr Ford

February 2019

It was a wonderful welcome with lots of lovely extras..

Mrs White

September 2018

Great base for surrounding h area helpful owners.. Everything we needed

Miss Guy

August 2018

The location for this property was excellent for the surrounding areas ie Durdle Door, Lulworth cove & West Bay and Lyme Regis.. The local pub views wasn’t great unfortunately because of new ownership so we didn’t explore that avenue.! However the little local shop was fantastic Very friendly & helpful and sold all local produce. The only downside we found was how close the road was to the cottage which meant it got rather noisy at times.

Ms Hopkins

Lovely little cottage, great base fir exploring Dorset..

Mrs Kauczok

July 2018

It was a lovely picturesque village, It only had 1 shop that didn't open on saturday, It had 1 pub that only served meals till 2.. 00pm on sunday, & didn't open at all on monday. If you wanted to get any food or milk bread etc in these hours you had to travel 4 miles to sherbourne to get them. If you want a quiet Holiday, its great, but if you like to visit lots of places you definately need your own transport to get about.

Mrs Hellier

June 2018

Very uncomfortable settee in seating area.. Strong smell of urine downstairs.Very steep staircase not mentioned in cottage details. Would not return or recommend.

Mr O'hara

A good, well thought out, compact cottage.. Hosts were very helpful .It was also thoughtful to provide milk in the fridge and a basket of goodies on arrival. We would advise backing onto the parking area. Good value and an enjoyable stay. Easy access to Sherbourne and surrounding area.

Mrs Searle

April 2018

The hosts provided many lovely food treats for us, including sweets, biscuits, wine, fresh eggs, fruit and milk.. The kitchen and bathroom were extremely well stocked. The bath was sheer luxury!

Mrs Harrop

March 2018

Beautiful cottage ,all our needs catered for and the welcome pack was an added luxury.. Lovely little village and excellent good value food at the local pub too.

Mr Falvey

February 2018

The directions provided assumed we would be arriving from the opposite direction compared to our actual route; it would have been helpful to have directions which covered entering the village either way..

Mrs Packman

January 2018

Lovely cottage with fantastic attention to detail .. With everything you need plus a welcome pack and many other thoughtful touches .The area was lovely so many pretty villages to explore .Would highly recommend.

Mrs Cox

November 2017

The owners of this property were very welcoming, they'd put a lovely welcome pack in the cottage for us, also flowers and toiletries, absolutely lovely.. and the luxury bathroom was a dream.

Mrs Struby

Great location for sight seeing and the local pub is great, also just a few miles from Sherbourne which has a lovely Abbey - well worth visiting.. With regard to the cottage, the fridge and kitchen utensils could have done with a clean. The bathroom smelt of damp and the mattress on the bed could do with changing as I could feel the springs digging into my back which made for a very uncomfortable nights sleep.

Mr Newland

October 2017

The cottage was exactly what we wanted, great facilities and extra personal touches were above and beyond..

Teresa R

September 2017

Lovely cottage in great location for holidaying in Dorset. Luxury bathroom and inglenook fireplace with wood burner. Owners provide a very friendly welcome with a basket of locally produced goodies. The cottage is very well stocked and the owners have provided many extras. The local pub is less than 5 minutes walk and is dog friendly and very welcoming proving good selection of ales and great food at good prices.

Immaculate little cottage ideal for exploring this part of West Dorset.. 5 minutes walk to village centre with excellent pub that serves superb food & beer! Also a very useful little village shop & post office. The cottage owners - David & Tracy, have thought of absolutely everything to make for a comfortable relaxing break - we have never seen such a generous welcome pack: milk, eggs, wine, a full fruit bowl, teabags, coffee, biscuits, snacks, shower & bath toiletries, choice of heavy or light duvet etc etc! Everything was spotlessly clean & tidy! The cottage is quite tiny, although perfect for a couple, but something to bear in mind is that there is no garden, and the cottage fronts a busy road with no fencing or gate - so not ideal for dogs. Other than that thoroughly recommended!

Mr Dennis

It was a great little cottage very good location the owners David and Tracey are lovely people probably one of the best welcome packs we have had ,would certainly consider going back again in future we have always used sykes and would always recommend them..

Mr Rawling

A lovely cosy cottage with luxury bathroom and inglenook fireplace with wood burner.. The owners were very welcoming and provided many extras such as luxury toiletries and locally produced goodies as well as doggy treats and freshly laid eggs from their own chickens! Can highly recommend this cottage as a great base for a Dorset holiday. The local pub is less than 5 minutes walk and was very friendly and food was very good.

Mr Hare

May 2017

Only concern although pet's are welcome there is no enclosed area in which to let pet's out..

Mrs Smith

March 2017

Lovely cottage with lots of extras included.. Owners very welcoming. Great location for walking and train within easy reach for Weymouth and Yeovil. Local dog friendly pub. Definately recommend this cottage.

Mrs Smy

June 2016

The village location was excellent with the shop and pub within walking distance. A very friendly village with good dog walking facilities. A good location for exploring both Dorset and Somerset.

readersFolkestone

December 2015

This is a small cottage but it is perfect for 2 people. Downstairs an adequate kitchen, dinning table, settee and TV etc. Also a very good log burner. Upstairs a good bedroom with lots of storage and a lovely bathroom. As is often mentioned the welcome basket was very nice and meant that a late arrival would not have been too much of a problem as there was enough to make a meal. The bathroom was also excellently suplied with shampoo etc. The only negative thing was that we planned to go out for a meal at the King's Arms in the village only to find that it was fully booked. So, check if there is space earlier in the week might be the order of the day! All in all a real gem of a place to stay.

Miss Summers

November 2015

Candy Cottage was a perfect base for walking and visiting nearby attractions especially the Sherborne Castle garden centre ' winter wonderland '.

Mrs Willett

It was cosy and the owners were very welcoming. Had the best birthday weekend and love the welcome hamper gift.

Mr Martin

September 2015

Close proximity to Sherborne for all the convenience of a larger town but Thornford had a great pub serving great food and a lovely village shop. There were reasonably good transport links if you didn't have a car. Good base for exploring Dorset and Somerset. There was also a brilliant welcome pack to get us going. We would recommend this cottage to anyone we know, without hesitation!

Miss Nicholls

The bathroom was a dream to use, and spotlessly clean. Loved the bedroom and had more than ample space for all my things. Didn't want to leave.

Mrs Ventham

May 2015

The owners made us very welcome and there were lots of unexpected extras. So much thought has gone into this property and it shows. We felt very comfortable and relaxed. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Mrs Thomas

A beautiful home and lovey hosts - who could ask for more. It was a joy to stay.

Mr Birks

February 2015

Brilliant cottage, all holiday let's should be like this. The welcome pack was a true delight.

Mr Barnes

November 2014

The owners have really thought of everything. A lovely cottage in a small, friendly village. The Kings Arms pub, just 5 minutes walk up the road is great too. Good centre to explore the lovely Dorset/Somerset villages and countryside.

Mrs Brockman

Candy Cottage is a lovely little cottage which has been nicely refurbished. The owners have gone to a lot of trouble to make holiday makers feel welcome with their little luxuries. It's situated in a quiet little village with a very nice pub in walking distance which was a bonus !

Mrs Sharpe

October 2014

Good cottage and friendly, helpful owners. Quiet environment, local pub food is good and a very quiet and relaxing place to spend time.

Mrs Brown

Our hosts had thought of everything possible that we needed. Was very impressed with all.

Mrs Lee

September 2014

A lovely cottage which was cosy and very welcoming. An ideal base to visit the area.

Mr Reynolds

May 2014

The cottage was ideally situated for the area we wanted to explore, it was great to come back to a very comfy place after being out walking etc during the day. The village was really pretty. It was great to find somewhere that let us take the dog, he had a good time too. Can I also say a thank you for all the little extra touches that were in the cottage from hamper of goodies to all the pampering bits in the bathroom. A super place to stay, we enjoyed our week very much.

Mrs De Borde Barker

The cottage was extremely well equipped; the kitchen had every necessity despite being tiny. There was an abundance of goodies for our use, far beyond what was expected and a truly scrumptious welcome basket.

Mr Mrs Reynolds

March 2014

Sole guest so nice to have owners next door. Handy local shop nearby. Location well placed for visiting nearby towns.

Ms Armstrong

February 2014

The area was beautiful and there was easy access to various other places. We loved the wood burner and the owner provided lots of added extras which were most appreciated and made us feel very welcome.

Guest

January 2014

As soon as we arrived it felt as if we had come home. The welcome pack and doggy treats were a lovely touch. The owners were easily accessible but unobtrusive. Top marks for luxurious bathroom products and what a bathroom!! Location is ideal for exploring the area, there are some lovely local walks, well signposted. Hop on the train to go farther afield and no parking issues. Sherborne is quaint with some lovely shops and cafés. The castle grounds and cafe are well worth a look around on a nice day. Would be nice for the front garden to have been enclosed but other than that a 5 star holiday.

Mr Tye

November 2013

The place was a great base for our holiday where we relaxed in the cottage and had days out. I cannot recommend this property highly enough if you are a couple looking for a quiet break with lots of trimmings.

Mrs Taylor

The cottage was beautiful, the bathroom and bedroom stunning. The hosts were there if we needed them, but did not intrude on our holiday. I would recommend this property to anyone.

Mrs Spry

October 2013

The cottage is wonderful. There are plenty of walks nearby, and would highly recommend a visit to Sherborne, and the Castle.

Mr Brooks

This is the second time we have stayed at Candy Cottage, and we enjoyed our time there.

Miss Curtis

September 2013

The cottage was absolutely beautiful, and ready for our arrival. Folder full of information of the surrounding areas and days out were really helpful throughout the holiday. Excellent location for exploring, and even better knowing we would going home to a luxury at the end of the day. We loved everything about this holiday, and the cottage was perfect, so romantic and cosy. We will definitely be going back again!

Mr Hoy

The personal welcome was fantastic. The cottage was very clean and comfortable, with all the necessary amenities, and a perfect base from which to go out each day. All in all the perfect holiday home.

marleyr

August 2013

After reading all the glowing reviews for this quaint cottage I went ahead and booked but the biggest let down to what should have been a quiet relaxing stay was the very busy noisey road running past the cottage. As the weather was extremely warm and no fan was provided it was uncomfortable not to leave the windows open and I have to say in what is supposed to be a sleepy village the noise was very oppressive! forget a quiet sleep in! The only other bad comments I would make is thepoor quality bed linen (polyester) also didnt aid a good nights sleep and it would have be nice to have been provided additional clean towels.

Mrs Groombridge

June 2013

You could not wish for more! Small but beautifully altered, bathroom superb. Bedroom and downstairs tastefully completed.

Mr Day

There was nothing we did not like about the holiday. We cannot praise our reception or accommodation enough.

Mr Jones

A wonderful little cottage in the heart of Dorset, very clean and tidy and very friendly village, would return again and would recommend.

Lewis

April 2013

The bathroom in the property was magnificent!

Mrs Jeynes

Owners very helpful - sent information letter before we arrived. Lots of little extras in cottage - bath products, candles and welcome pack of chocolates etc - lovely. Wonderful cosy bathroom.

Mr Baddeley

Fantastic would recommend highly, a wonderful standard of accommodation which made our holiday one to be repeated!

Miss Gilbey

March 2013

We would recommend this cottage 100 percent.

Mrs Stott

January 2013

Friendly and helpful owners. Well equipped and comfortable cottage. Enjoy the log burner - very cosy.

November 2012

Beautiful little country style cottage, ideal for couples.The reception pack we received was excellent - the contents of which were of a very high standard, icluding two small bottles of wine, which were very welcome.The locally sourced biscuits were superb. The cottage itself was finished to a very high specification and extemely comfortable. As with the rest of the cottage,the bedroom and furniture were quite luxurious.Although a road runs right outside the cottage, there was hardly any traffic to make it feel noisy or uncomfortable. The outlook from the bedroom window was indeed very pleasant,overlooking the tree lined road. The small kitchen was adequate enough to enable decent meals to be cooked for two people (although, the local pub, only 5 minutes walk away, served lovely meals) The general feel of the accomodation was very relaxed and welcoming. The owners made us feel welcome from day one and were available if we needed any assistance. The village itself was extremely nice, and I would say was a typical Dorset village - beautiful properties in a beautiful county. The cottage is ideally situated to enable you to visit just about any other location in Dorset and beyond, without too much hassle.There are no motorways in Dorset, so getting to some of the beautiful villages entails driving along country roads,which have beautiful scenery. There are plenty of places to visit, includinge the typically English village of Cerne abass, with the legendary Cerne abbass giant carved into the hillside.Lovely walking country. The highlight for us was a visit to abbotsbury sub tropical gardens - absolutely fantastic. Also not too far away is the famous Chesil Beach, which again was beautiful. What we liked best was the fact we were made to feel very welcome, not only by the owners but also the locals. A very friendly lot - and the local pub served some very decent real ales - highly recommended. We have recommended this cottage to friends, and we will definitely be back

Before we even got to Candy Cottage we received a lovely card giving us directions and welcoming us to our home for the week. When we arrived we were greeted by a heavenly scent, a bunch of roses, some yummy treats and fresh laid eggs. The cottage is small but not uncomfortably so and every corner has been utilised in an imaginative way. The decor and furnishings are tasteful and in keeping with the charm of the place. We recommend a visit to The Sculptures by the Lakes at Tincleton, you do need to book online and it's not the easiest place to find but absolutely breath taking. The cider farm at Dawlish Wake was excellent too. It's ideal for a quiet romantic break for two.

Mrs Stagg

October 2012

A beautiful cottage, a very warm welcome from the owners and some lovely treats, wine, chocolates, fruit and bathroom toiletries. A lovely village and good location visiting the beach, countryside and shopping.

Mr Philpott

September 2012

High quality fixtures and fittings, a bathroom that I would like at home, very friendly and helpful owners and easily the best welcome pack we have ever had including scrumptious home-made cake. Really lovely area. Cannot praise this cottage high enough.

Mr Nye

August 2012

The cottage was way above our expectations - it was finished to a very high spec. Would definitely recommend this particular cottage and hopefully we will return soon.

Mrs Pettitt

Candy Cottage is absolutely beautiful. It's the best, most comfortable and well presented self catering cottage we've ever stayed in. The owners are a lovely couple who made us feel really welcome and their thoughtfulness and designer flair is what makes this cottage unique.

Mrs Cannon

Good location, excellent cottage and a very nice welcome from owners. There were a lot of little extras which made us feel special.

Mr Tucker

July 2012

The cottage was very comfortable. The owners were very welcoming, they supplied an exceptional welcome basket, plus luxurious toiletry items (bubble bath, body lotion etc.). The area was very pleasant within easy distance of tourist attractions.

Prof Smith

In our experience of holiday lettings, the quality of Candy Cottage is outstanding.

Mrs Mclaren

A good base for sightseeing.

June 2012

Beautiful modern yet traditional cottage. Very cosy. The Owners were very welcoming and went out of their way to make sure we had a lovely stay. We will definitely be coming back again. We were really impressed with the cottage - 5*!

May 2012

Excellent welcome, with good explanation of the facilities in the cottage. All decor and furnishings to a good standard and very comfortable. Staircase is a little steep, as warned, but all in all a lovely little hideaway at reasonable cost, with thoughtful little extras. Handy for most of Dorset and East Somerset. Quiet and relaxing to come back to, village pub had the builders in so was a bit squeezed but food and welcome good and they said they'd had the holidayers from this cottage just about every week since the cottage was first let.

Miss Greenfield

March 2012

The standard that the owners have set is indeed 5 star. The fixtures and fittings are beautiful. The little extras provided were very much appreciated. We found the cottage to be an excellent base to explore the area from.

Mr Cooper

Lovely cottage, very well appointed. A great hideaway, but convenient for all sorts of activities.

Mr Coleman

February 2012

The cottage was made better by the owners touches and extras that you would not expect.

Mr Silcock

January 2012

We received a hand written letter of welcome and information before arrival and a welcome basket. The flair and quality of the fittings are simply first class. We really were enchanted by the cottage and its owners.

Miss Jefferson

We enjoyed every aspect of the cottage and the owners were lovely.

Mrs Tanner

Cosy cottage, great size for a couple. The local pub's are highly recommended. The friendly locals made us feel very welcome. Just forty minutes for the beautiful seaside town of Lyme Regis.

Ms Thompson

December 2011

The little extras that the owners provided were a lovely touch. Also lovely toiletries in the bathroom. Better than a 5 star hotel! Perfect country getaway with a fabulous bathroom and log fire burner.

10/10 in every aspect, Sykes as always were efficient and helpful in arranging and sourcing our holiday, candy cottage was very comfortable, peaceful, excellent location, fantastic views, the cottage had everything we needed and more, it was very refreshing that the owners were so keen to ensure we had the best hol, which we did, lovely little touches such as luxury bubble bath and honey and owners free range eggs, plus a little treat for our dog, we had the best holiday we ever had and truly didn't want to go home, we will be back for sure.

Ms Bird

November 2011

The overall condition of the property was very tastefully refurbished and the owners of the property had put a lot of thought and consideration into it. The village was peaceful and it was not too far from the town which had all the amenities you would expect for a long or short stay.

Mrs Barnes

October 2011

Lots to see and do in a beautiful part of our country, a bonus that our dog could come with us too! The cottage had the most amazing bath, and it was a lovely surprise that the owners supplied some pampering items such as luxury bubble bath, and body lotion. Lovely cottage and lovely owners who were out to make your holiday the best it could be. Excellent. I would go back tomorrow if I could. The accommodation really was fantastic.

This accomodation was amazing ,free eggs milk and honey on arrival ,egyptian cotton towels and M&S; bath products .Very well equipped cottage with owners on hand but not intrusive .Would recommend this for a quiet break with access to a lot of other areas close by .

Mr H

September 2011

The location was good and the cottage was well presented. The owners could not do enough for us, and we were made to feel very much at home.

T. Lester

Very friendly welcome and with the essentials waithing for you, tea, milk, biscuits, eggs and local honey. Very comfy, just right for two. Bathroom was amazing. Modern kitchen area but small. Pub nearby but unusual opening times. Local railway line if you don't want to drive everywhere. Lots of local walks. Very quiet, just what we wanted.

Mr Kempster

August 2011

It was the little extras that to owner put in the property that made all the difference eg a bowl of fruit, fresh flowers, cleaning materials, and groceries, etc.

Mr Tredgett

Pleasant hosts and there were little touches such as, fresh eggs, honey and fruit on arrival. Try the pub at end of the road, very friendly.

Great place to stay. Owners very helpful and lovely people.

Mrs Lester

July 2011

Although this cottage was on a fairly busy road, it was very quiet presumably because of the double glazing. The bed was very comfy. There werer nice walks around the village. The local station was within walking distance if you didn't want to use your car.

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Candy Cottage in Sherborne, Dorset